Machine for packaging rod-shaped articles

ABSTRACT

A machine for packaging cigarettes is disclosed. The machine includes a plurality of rotatable translator members - preferably three - each having a plurality of compartments - preferably four - for receiving a group of cigarettes. The translator devices are each rotatable about a respective horizontal axis of rotation, the axes of rotation are mutually spaced apart and the translator members are staggered relative to one another in a direction parallel to their axes of rotation. Thus, next adjacent translator members are so disposed relative to one another that a group of cigarettes from a compartment in one of the translator members, or a group of cigarettes which have been wrapped to form a package as the case may be, can be pushed directly and by a simple sliding motion from a compartment of that translator member to a compartment in a next adjacent translator member while the two compartments are aligned end-to-end in the axial direction. The machine also includes means for feeding an inner wrapper into a compartment in a second translator member, and means for feeding an outer wrapper into a compartment of a final translator member.

Scherund ggg $0113. [19] Dec.9,1975

Alfred Schmermund, 62 Kornerstrasse, 5820 Gevelsberg, Germany [22 Filed:Oct. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.:403,732

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 19, 1972 United Kingdom48186/72 [52] US. Cl. 53/60; 53/148; 53/234; 53/236 [51] Int. C19. B65B19/30; B65B 11/28 [58] Field of Search 53/60, 137, 148, 173, 183,53/225, 230, 232, 234, 236

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,533 8/1932 Scott53/148 X 2,037,631 4/1936 Hultin 53/234 X 2,603,047 7/1952 Malhiot53/234 X 3,035,379 5/1962 Cloots 53/234 X 3,113,903 10/1963 Harris53/137 X 3,253,385 5/1966 Beermann 53/234 X 3,608,270 9/1971 Rudszinat53/234 X 3,628,309 12/1971 Seragnoli... 53/234 3,735,767 5/1973 Kruse53/236 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,030,347 5/1966 United Kingdom53/148 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Assistant ExaminerJohn SiposAttorney, Agent, or Firm--Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [57]ABSTRACT A machine for packaging cigarettes is disclosed. The machineincludes a plurality of rotatable translator members preferably threeeach having a plurality of compartments preferably four for receiving agroup of cigarettes. The translator devices are each rotatable about arespective horizontal axis of rotation, the axes of rotation aremutually spaced apart and the translator members are staggered relativeto one another in a direction parallel to their axes of rotation. Thus,next adjacent translator members are so disposed relative to one anotherthat a group of cigarettes from a compartment in one of the translatormembers, or a group of cigarettes which have been wrapped to form apackage as the case may be, can be pushed directly and by a simplesliding motion from a compartment of that translator member to acompartment in a next adjacent translator member while the twocompartments are aligned end-to-end in the axial direction. The machinealso includes means for feeding an inner wrapper into a compartment in asecond translator member, and means for feeding an outer wrapper into acompartment of a final translator member.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 1 of43,924,386

Sheet 3 of4 US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 US. Patent Dec. 9-1975 Sheet4 0f43,924,386

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a machine for packaging rod-shaped articles.The machine may be used, for example, in the packaging of cigarettes,and in particular contemplates the wrapping of a block or group ofcigarettes so arranged that the block or group has a rectangularoutline, in an inner wrapper which may consist for example of thintissue paper and an outer wrapper which may consist for example of thintin foil or paper. The wrappers may alternatively consist of syntheticmaterial or any other suitable material, as desired.

Machines for the packaging of rod-shaped articles such as cigarettes areknown, and a part of such a machine is described in German Pat. No.906,678. There is shown in this specification a rotary wheel having anumber of peripheral compartments so arranged that the width directionof a rectangular block of cigarettes received in any of the compartmentsis substantially tangential to the wheel. A vacuum arrangement isprovided in order to retain a wrapper around the inner walls of thecompartments.

US. Pat. No. 3,628,309 shows a machine for packaging cigarettes, themachine having a number of collinearly arranged rotary devices forcarrying out various aspects of the packaging procedure, the principaltransverse axis joining the three rotary devices being perpendicular tothe axis of rotation of each of them. Transfer of cigarette blocks fromone device to another takes place in a direction parallel to the linejoining the rotary devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided a machine for wrapping groups of rod-shaped articles comprisinginput means to receive a plurality of rodshaped articles, a plurality ofindividually rotatable translator members, mounting means supporting thetranslator members to be each rotatably displaceable about a respectiveone of mutually parallel axes of rotation, to be mutually spaced apartin a direction parallel to the axes of rotation, and to locate nextadjacent ones of the translator members in at least partially mutuallyoverlapping relationship, a plurality of pairs of substantially parallelaxially extending side wall members and a plurality of base wall memberseach interconnecting radially inner portions of a respective pair of theside wall members in each translator member to define therein acorresponding plurality of compartments each extending generallyradially to the respective axis of rotation and each being capable ofreceiving a group of such articles, insertion means to transfer a groupof rod-shaped articles from the input means intoa compartment in a firsttranslator member, drive means coupled to the translator members toimpart angular displacement thereto and thereby to locate any of thecompartments in any one of the translator members in selective axialend-to-end relationship with one of the compartments in a furthertranslator member next adjacent the one translator member, at least onepusher means to pushably transfer a group of such articles between saidmutually end-to-end aligned compartments of next adjacent translatormembers, at least one wrapper feeder means synchronised with the angulardisplacement of a respective one of the translator members to feed awrapper into an empty compartment in the or each further translatormember, at least one wrapper folder means to fold at least oneprojecting wrapper portion over a group of such articles in a respectivecompartment, extractor means to extract a wrapped group of such articlesfrom one of the compartments when in operative juxtaposition with theextractor means, and output means to receive the wrapped group of sucharticles from the extractor means.

Once the rod-shaped articles have been pushed into a compartment in thefirst translator member, they retain their configuration adopted in thatcompartment while they continue to pass through all the translatorstages of the machine. The rod-shaped articles are discharged from thefinal translator stage of the machine in the form of finished packages,which may include for example an inner wrapper immediately surroundingthe articles and an outer wrapper superposed on the inner wrapper.

The compartments may be so positioned in the rotary translator membersas to be radially upright, i.e. the length of the compartment extends ina direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary translatorconcerned, the depth of the compartment extends in a direction radial ofthat axis, and the width of the compartment is, of course, perpendicularto the length and depth. The length is, of course, the largest of thethree compartment dimensions, and the width the smallest.

The depth dimension of the compartments corresponds to the width of apackage of rod-shaped articles, such as cigarettes, whilst the widthdimension of the compartments corresponds to the thickness of thepackage.

The wrappers may be inserted from above into th appropriate compartmentof a rotary translator member so that the wrapper is maintained in eachcase in a generally U-shaped configuration against the walls of thecompartment by means of an air suction or vacuum device.

The finished packages may be pushed out of the machine at the finaltranslator stage in a direction generally opposite to that of theirinitial entry into the first translator stage of the machine.

If desired, provision may be made in the machine for the supply andfixing of a sealing sticker over one end of the outer wrapper, suchsticker carrying information concerning tax, duty or other factors asdesired. The sticker may be placed flat against the end of the packageto be sealed, and folded over in a U-shaped manner after wetting withadhesive.

Where three rotary translator members are provided, the first to locateand monitor the rod-shaped articles, the second to apply the innerwrapper, and the third or final translator member to apply the outerwrapper, it is convenient to cause the first rotary translator member tobe angularly displaced in one rotational direction and the second andfinal rotary translator members each to be angularly displaced in therespective opposite rotational direction. Suitable gearing or otherdrive transmission means, for example including a Maltese Crossarrangement, may be provided for this purpose.

The arrangement of the individual rotary translator members relativelyto one another may conveniently be such, that as the rod-shaped articlesor partially wrapped packages are transferred linearly from one rotarytranslator member to another, they are so orientated that their lengthand width directions each extend in a substantially horizontal plane.

A supply path for the inner wrapper and for the outer wrapper may be sodefined that the former path extends in a direction perpendicular to theaxis of rotation of the second rotary translator member, while thelatter path extends in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation ofthe final rotary translator member.

It is convenient for the axes of rotation of the three rotary translatormembers to be horizontal and to be mutually spaced apart from oneanother.

Arrangements are provided in the machine for carrying out the necessaryfolding of the inner and outer wrappers around the rod-shaped articles,the necessary folds including lateral folds of projecting end portionsof the wrappers extending along the width of the articles. Lever membersmay be provided for carrying out these folding operations, the levermembers being arranged to pivot up and down as well as towards and awayfrom the rod-shaped articles, and to place one folded flap over theopposite folded flap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of this invention willnow be more particularly described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the machine, seen from the front;

FIG. 2 shows a further schematic view of the ma chine, seen from thelefthand side;

FIG.. 3 shows the machine from above, again in schematic representation;

FIG. 4 shows a detail schematic view of part of the foldingarrangements; and

FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow path diagram which indicates the pathtaken by cigarettes through the packaging machine and the manner inwhich the inner and outer wrappers respectively are folded around thecigarettes.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1shows a bed of the machine designated with the reference numerals 1, 2and 3, and a housing 4 containing drive means, gearing and othertransmission arrangements. Input means in the form of a supply hopper 5is provided above the bed of the machine, for supplying rod-shapedarticles such as cigarettes down individual chutes 65 having theirbeginnings defined between agitating rollers 6 situated within thehopper 5, and insertion means in the form of a feed table arrangement isprovided for transferring the cigarettes from the base of hopper 5 tothe lefthand compartment of a first one, designated with referencenumeral 23, of three rotary translator members or devices 23, 24 and 25,which are respectively provided for monitoring the cigarettes, forfolding an inner wrapper around the cigarettes, and for folding an outerwrapper around the inner wrapper. The respective stages of the machinewhich include the translator members 23, 24 and 25 are indicatedgenerally in the drawings by the references I, II and III. The cigarettefeed table arrangement is represented schematically in the drawings andmay be of the kind described in detail in my prior US. Pat. No.3,282,443. The axes of rotation of the three rotary translator membersor devices 23, 24 and 25 are parallel to one another, are mutuallyspaced apart, and each extend horizontally. The rotary translatormembers or devices are each constructed in 90 cross shape, one of fourcells or compartments of each rotary device being situated on each oneof the four arms of the device. Each of the rotary translator members isprovided with four cells or compartments defined by four pairs ofsubstantially parallel axially extending wall members and four base wallmembers each interconnecting radially inner portions of a respectivepair of the side wall members in each translator member. Eachcompartment, such as those indicated in FIG. 1 by the references 20, 21and 22 extends generally radially to the respective axis of rotation andeach is adapted to receive a group or block of cigarettes. The base wallmembers extend perpendicularly to the corresponding pair of side wallmembers and tangentially to a circle concentric with the axis ofrotation of the respective translator member. The cells or compartmentsare selectably connected to air suction means to retain a wrappertherein in substantially U- shaped configuration, the wrappers areretained against the walls of compartments, and such wrappers are shownby heavy lines in the compartments 21 and 22 (FIG. 1). For this purpose,the compartments are provided with perforate inner wall members spacedapart from corresponding outer wall members to define ductstherebetween. These ducts are selectably connected to suction applicatormeans, including ducts 77 and 78 which are provided in the body of therespective translator devices and which retain a wrapper against thewalls of the respective compartment in the interest of clarity, theducts 77 and 78 by means of which suction is applied to retain thewrapper against the walls of the respective compartment are indicatedschematically only in respect of the upper cell of the translator deviceII in FIG. 1. However, such ducts are provided for each cell of both thetranslator devices II and III. The construction of such cells orcompartments and of the suction means is more fully described in thespecification of my co-pending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 413,995 nowUS. Pat. No. 3,877,354. The orientation of the compartments is such thattheir length direction extends parallel to the axis of rotation of therespective rotary device, their depth direction extends radially of theaxis of rotation, and their width is of course perpendicular to thelength and width. The depth dimension of a compartment corresponds tothe width of a package of cigarettes and the width dimension of thecompartments corresponds to the thickness of a package formed by awrapped block or group of cigarettes. The length dimension of eachcompartment is greater than its depth dimension and the latter isgreater than the width dimension. A supply reel 32 is provided for thesupply of an inner wrapper through the nip between two transport rollers30 and 31, and between the two mutually co-operable parts 28 and 29 of arotating knife arrangement. Lengths thus cut from a continuous web ofinner wrapper supplied from the reel 32 pass through the nip betweenfurther transport rollers 26 and 27, of which the roller 26 has a largerdiameter than the roller 27, and then pass around a portion of thecircumference of the roller 26 through additional guide rollers to aregistration position above the top compartment 21 of the second rotarydevice 24. Additional gearing is provided in a box 7. Feeder members 33and 34 are provided above the second and third rotary devicesrespectively. Each of the feeder members 33 and 34 is displaceable intoa respective compartment of the corresponding translator member in adirection extending radially of the respective axis of rotation tointroduce an inner wrapper and an outer wrapper respectively into theuppermost compartments of the respective rotary devices. Thus, thesecomponents form wrapper feeder means synchronised with angulardisplacement of the further rotary translator members 24 and 25 to feedinner and outer wrappers into respective empty compartments of thetranslator members 24 and 25, when such compartments are located intheir uppermost positions with their respective side walls extendingvertically.

The insertion means includes tandem-operable cigarette ejectors 8 and 9(FIG. 3), a pusher member 10, and reciprocatory distribution cells 11and 12 forming part of the feed table arrangement described in US. Pat.Specification 3,282,443. Pusher means in the form of three pushingmembers 13, 14 and 15 are provided for transferring the cigarettes fromthe first rotary device to the second, from the second to the third andfor ejecting the packages from the third rotary device, respectively.These transfers taking place between mutually end-to-end alignedcompartments of next adjacent translator members. The pusher member 15forms part of extractor means for extracting wrapped blocks ofcigarettes from a compartment in the final translator member. Theextractor means operates when a compartment in the final translatormember is in operative juxtaposition with the pusher member 15. Numeralsl6 and 17 denote intake mouthpiece portions, and numeral l8 denotes atransverse pushing member for displacing the finished, packages tooutput means of the machine. These finished packages have both inner andouter wrappers surrounding the cigarettes as well as a sealing stickershown on the right of the package 53 in FIG. 3. The output means of themachine includes a lifting member 19 (FIG. 1), which is provided to liftthe discharged finished packages into a shaft in which the packagesaccumulate.

FIG. 2 shows the wrapper feed means for the outer wrapper. A magazine 39is provided to hold individual sheets of outer wrapper of large length,and a suction roller 38 is positioned to draw off individual sheets fromthe magazine and to supply them to a portion of the circumference of agripper cylinder 37, at which the sheets follow the course shown by thearrows and heavy lines in FIG. 2. The sheets pass along a belt whichcirculates around transport rollers 35 and 36, and a nozzle 40 isprovided for the application of liquid adhesive material to the surfaceof the outer wrapper facing the nozzle 40 as the wrapper passes aroundthe roller 37. Numeral 41 denotes a rotary mounting for the leverarrangement belonging to the thruster 10, as described in U.S. Pat. No.3,282,443, mentioned above.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a lever belonging to the feed tablearrangement, and numeral 43 a pull rod for operating the lever.

Referring to FIG. 2, sticker applicator means in the form of a rotarydevice or roller 44 is provided for the application of the sealingsticker, this roller being cooperable with a supporting roller 45 and afeed or suction roller 46 provided for drawing off individual stickersfrom a magazine 47. Guide mountings 48 and 49 are provided forcontrolling the movement of the distribution cells 11 and 12respectively. Reference numeral 50 denotes a transfer bridge memberwhich may be used in the apparatus according to US. Pat. No. 3,282,443.

A testing arrangement is provided for monitoring the quality and numberof the cigarettes supplied to each compartment, the testing arrangementconsisting of monitoring elements 51 and 52, which are in the form ofsensors to be applied to the cigarette blocks and the position of whichis shown in FIG. 3. A pile of finished packages is shown at 54 in FIG.I, situated in the hollow vertical shaft mentioned above. Mounting meanssupporting the translator members include three rotatable shafts 55, 56and 57, and rotary bearings 58, 59 and 60 support the rotary devices onthe shafts. As shown best in FIG. 3, the mounting means locates nextadjacent ones of the translator members in at least partially mutuallyoverlapping relationship in which the translator members are mutuallyspaced apart in a direction parallel to their respective and mutuallyparallel axes of rotation. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the axesof rotation of the respective translator members are mutually spacedapart in a direction perpendicular to these axes of rotation. However,in accordance with another embodiment, the axes of rotation of therespective translator members are disposed in mutually axial alignment.In these circumstances, the translator members are disposed in line withone another and next adjacent ones of the translator members aredisposed in substantially complete overlapping relationship. Asubstantially semi-circular casing 61, 62 is provided around part of theperiphery of each of the second and third rotary translator members, toassist in the support of the cigarette blocks and to prevent the blocksfrom falling out of the bottom compartments of these rotary devices. Theinner wrapper, in this case of paper, is shown at 63, and the outerwrapper, in this case also of paper, is shown at 64. Individual chutes65 are provided within the hopper 5, to assist in the metering of theflow of the cigarettes towards the feed table arrangement. The radialfolding-over of projecting wrapper portions is carried out by wrapperfolder means in the form of lower folding members 66 and upper foldingmembers 67 respectively, the positions of which are shown in FIGS. 1 and2. As indicated previously, each of the compartments in the second andfinal rotary translator members is of such a construction as tofacilitate the holding of the wrappers in the compartments by means ofair suction or vacuum means. The air suction means is selectablyconnected to ducts in the wall members of the compartments to maintain awrapper introduced therein in generally U-shaped configuration againstsuch wall members, thereby means is operatively connected to such ductsonly on the compartment being disposed opposite the respective wrapperfeeder member 33 or 34. If desired, the compartments of the first rotarytranslator member may also be made of such a construction.

Wrapper folder means in the form of two folding elements 68 are shown inFIG. 1, to co-operate with the second and final rotary translatormembers respectively, each of the folding elements 68 comprising a leverdevice which is movable up and down as well as pivotable about an axiswhich moves up and down with the lever arrangement. The function of thefolding lever members 68 is initially to allow to pass the edges of theinner and outer paper respectively and then to fold down the upperprojecting edge portions of the respective wrappers. Thus each wrapperfolder means may comprise a plurality of pivotably mounted levermembers, each lever member being both pivotably displaceable andrectilinearly displaceable in a common plane, the plane of the drawingin FIG. 1, to carry out a wrapper folding step in which one foldableprojecting wrapper portion is folded over the cigarette block. The fullscheme of the folding operations will be described later with referenceto FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 also shows at 68a the lower extreme positions occupied by therespective folding lever members 68. The upper extreme position is shownin solid lines and the lower extreme position in chain-dotted lines.Actuating rods 69 are provided for the mouthpiece portions 16 and 17respectively.

Further wrapper folder means in the form of folding elements 70 areprovided at the radially inner end portion of each of the compartmentsof the second and final rotary devices respectively, the purpose of thefolding elements 70 being to carry out the radially outwardly directedfold of a narrow strip of inner or outer wrapper which projects in adirection parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary translatormembers beyond the radially inner edge portion of the cigarette block.The folding elements 70 are arranged to circulate with the rotarydevices and are camoperated. As desired, the folding elements 70 may beprovided at one axial end only, or at both axial ends, of the rotarytranslator members. Yet further wrapper means in the form of lateralfolders 71 are provided to carry out the lower fold of the lateral endportions of the wrapper projecting axially beyond the cigarette block,prior to the carrying out of the upper fold by stationary side walls 72.The folders 71 are movable in a direction parallel to the thickness ofthe cigarette block, as well as being pivotable about axles which aremounted in carriages carried on pinions such as 75 (FIG. 4). The pinionsroll along toothed rack members such as 74 (FIG. 4), and thereby turnthe lateral folders 71. The numeral 76 denotes the range, in a directionparallel to the axis of rotation of each of the rotary devices, whichmust be capable of being kept clear from the influence of the folders 71for the desired period, to avoid interference by these folders with thedesired folding procedure. S denotes the path along which slidingcarriages supporting the folders 71 are moved to and fro. The distance Sis measured in a direction parallel to the line which joins the axes ofthe rotary devices and which is perpendicular to those axes. The slidingcarriages are not shown in FIG. 4, and the same components 71 to 73 areprovided at each axial end of the cigarette block.

The representation of FIG. 4 is a downward view, on to the cigaretteblock accommodated in the bottom compartment of the second rotarydevice. The stages of the machine including first, second and thirdrotary de vices are indicated generally by the reference numerals I, IIand III respectively. FIG. 4 clearly shows four projecting strips ofinner wrapper, which during the folding procedure are to be folded overby the folders 71 and the side walls 72. In the arrangement shown inFIG. 4, i

the folders 71 fold over, in a rightward direction, the left-handprojecting strips of wrapper, and the righthand projecting strips ofwrapper are folded over in a leftward direction as a result of themovement of the cigarette block itself during the rotation of the secondrotary translator member from the position to which the shown cigaretteblock is in the bottom compartment to that in which it is in theright-hand compartment as shown in FIG. 1, of the same rotary device.

The manner in which the cigarettes are fed into the left-handcompartment of the first rotary device shown in FIG. 1 is clear from theforegoing description. The manner in which the various foldingoperations takes place will now, however, be described with particular 8reference to FIG. 5, which shows schematically a flow diagram throughthe part of the machine which carries out the folding steps.

In FIG. 5, the three stages of the machine including the translatormembers 23, 24 and 25, respectively, are indicated generally by thereferences I, II and III. As indicated by the arrows on the circlesindicating the rotational path of each translator member, the translatormember in the stage I is angularly dislaced in a clockwise direction,whilst the translator members in stages II and III are each angularlydisplaced in an anti-clockwise direction.

When the cigarettes are in the left-hand compartment of the first rotarytranslator member or device, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, theyoccupy the position designated A in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a perspectiveview, from which it will be seen that the lengths of the cigarettes areall parallel to the axes of rotation of the rotary translator members inthe machine stages I, II and III. In the particular case shown, eachcigarette block contains twenty cigarettes. After a quarter of arevolution of the first rotary translator device in the clockwise senseof FIG. 5, position B is reached, in which monitoring of the number andquality of the cigarettes takes place by means of the monitoringelements 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 3.

A further clockwise rotation of the first rotary device brings thecigarette block into the position indicated with C in FIG. 5, in whichthe cigarette block is inverted in relation to its orientation inposition A. When the cigarette block is in position C, it lies axiallyopposite a compartment, shown at E in FIG. 5, of the second rotarydevice, in which a sheet of inner wrapper is held by vacuum, the sheethaving been fed into that compartment by means of the pushing member 33when the compartment was in position H shown in FIG. 5; i.e., thecompartment executes a 90 anti-clockwise rotation from position H toposition E to be ready to receive the cigarette block situated inposition C in the first rotary device. The pusher member 13 is nowactuated to push the cigarette block from position C to position E inFIG. 5, in which the cigarette block is partially enveloped by theU-shaped sheet of inner wrapper. Thus, the displacement of the pushermember 13 is co-ordinated with the rotational movement of the secondtranslator member to push the block of cigarettes from the position Cinto the compartment of the second translator member into which theinner wrapper feeder means has introduced the inner wrapper 63. Thefolding of the wrapper now takes place during subsequent rotation of thesecond rotary device. Initially, the second rotary device executes a 90anti-clockwise rotation to bring the cigarette block into position F inFIG. 5, after the left-hand folding device 68 (FIG. 1) has been broughtto its position 68a to fold down the upper left-hand projecting stripshown at position E in FIG. 5, i.e. the strip extending along theradially outer upper length edge of the cigarette block. During thisrotation, the casing 61 is employed to fold the lower left-hand lengthedge of the cigarette block wrapper, over the first mentioned lengthedge. When the cigarette block has reached position F, the foldingmembers 66 and 67 (FIG. 1) are moved upwardly and downwardlyrespectively, to fold over the short strips having a length equal onlyto the thickness of the cigarette block to form the upper and lowerfolds shown at position F in FIG. 5. These foldingoperations are, ofcourse, conducted in a similar manner at each opposite axial end of thecigarette block. In position F also, the components 71 and 72 are nowemployed to make the last two folds on the inner wrapper, i.e. to foldthe lefthand vertical strip to the right (see FIG. 5, position F) andthe right-hand vertical strip to the left. After a further 90anti-clockwise rotation, the cigarette block reaches position G, withall folds of the inner wrapper completed. The pusher member 14 (FIG. 3)is now employed to push the cigarette block axially into position J ofthe third or final rotary translator member, in which a U-shaped sheetof outer wrapper material is located in an empty compartment by suction.This outer wrapper sheet had been inserted into the compartment when thecompartment was in position M shown in FIG. 5, and the compartmentexecutes a 90 anti-clockwise angular displacement to bring it fromposition M to position J. After the insertion of the cigarette blockinto the outer wrapper at position J, there are no projecting strips ofouter wrapper at the axial end of the block facing the reader in FIG. 5at position J, but otherwise the configuration of the outer wrapperaround the inner wrapper in position J is the same as was that of theinner wrapper around the cigarette block at position E.

In position J, the right-hand folding member 68 (FIG. 1) is now employedto fold down the upper left-hand edge strip portion of outer wrapper,and the casing 62 is employed to fold the lower edge strip portion overthe upper edge strip portion. This takes place during a 90anti-clockwise angular displacement from position J to position K. Atposition K, the folder 66 is employed to make the bottom small fold atthe far axial end of the block in FIG. 5, and the remaining folds arecompleted by the folders 71 and 72 which are provided in correspondinglocations as was the case in respect of the second rotary translatormember.

While the cigarette block is in position K there takes place also theapplication of the sealing sticker shown in FIG. 5 at position K. Thissticker is supplied from the magazine 47 via sticker applicator means inthe form of the rollers 46, 45 and 44, and receives adhesive from thenozzle provided against the roller 45. The feed of the sealing stickersis synchronized with the operation of the final rotary translatormember. The sticker, which is one of a number of serially fed stickers,adopts the position shown in FIG. 5, i.e. across the axial end of thewrapped block facing the reader, and projects to the left and right asshown.

In the schematic flow diagram of FIG. 5, position I) always remainsempty.

After a 90 anti-clockwise rotation from position k, the wrappedcigarette block reaches position L, in which the wrapped block is againhorizontally disposed, and the pusher member is then employed to ejectthe block from the third rotary device in an axial direction in FIG. 5towards the reader, so that the block reaches position N on a conveyingpath to the output means of the machine in which the blocks are stackedat 54. During the passage of the wrapped package from position L toposition N in FIG. 5, the package cooperates with suitable abutmentsdisposed next adjacent its path. Such abutments form sticker foldermeans arranged to fold projecting end portions of the sticker againstthe side surfaces of the package. The displace ment path followed by thewrapped package from position L to position N in FIG. 5 is also shown inFIG. 3 (at the top of the drawing), in which the sticker folder meansare represented schematically and indicated by the reference numeral 79,In FIG. 3, the wrapped package is displaced from positions L to N in thedirection indicated by the arrows and the folded sticker is indicated bythe reference numeral 80. Thus, the sealing sticker is bent around theend of the outer wrapper to be sealed, so that the central portion ofthe sticker is held fast against the end folds of the inner wrapped andthe edges of the outer wrapper, and the end portions of the sticker arestuck to the upper and lower main surfaces of the wrapped cigaretteblock, as shown in FIG. 5 at position N.

Thus, from the description relating to FIG. 5, it is clear that theinsertion means including the pusher member 10, the pusher meansincluding the pusher members 13 and 14, and the extractor meansincluding the pusher member 15 are each adapted to displace a block ofcigarettes into or from a compartment which is loaded in operativejuxtaposition with the respective pusher member. As has been describedwith reference to FIG. 5, the compartments when located in operativejuxtaposition with the respective pusher member are so disposed thattheir side wall members are substantially horizontal.

It is also clear from FIG. 5 that the insetion means including thepusher member 10 feeds groups or blocks of cigarettes to the receivingcompartment in the first translator member in stage I in a directionindicated in FIG. 5 by a double-tailed arrow on the extreme lefthandside of the drawing. However, the extractor means including the pushermember 15 extracts and feeds the wrapped groups or blocks of cigarettesin a direction, indicated by a double-tailed arrow on the right of FIG.5, which extends parallel to but which is oppositely directed withrespect to the insertion direction indicated by the first mentioneddouble-tailed arrow. Thus, the insertion and extraction of cigarettesoccurs in mutually opposite directions.

The embodiment described above has three rotary devices. However, ifdesired, fewer than three or more than three rotary devices may beemployed, in dependence upon the number of wrapper layers or othermaterials desired to be fitted around the cigarette blocks.

The finished packages may, as desired, be piled up in the hollowvertical shaft shown in FIG. 1, stored in some other storage means, orfed directly to further processing .machines, for example machines towrap the finished package in viscose or cellulose film material.

If desired, individual gearings may be provided for the drive of each ofthe rotary devices, for example Maltese Cross arrangements, in whichcase all such gearings are conveniently situated in a common housing,which may be filled with oil.

As shown in FIG. 1, the supply of inner wrapper 63 is fed along a feedpath having a portion, next adjacent the second translator member, whichextends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of therespective translator member. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the axis ofrotation of the second translator member extends perpendicularly to theplane of the drawing, whereas the latter portion of the feed path of theinner wrapper extends to the plane of the drawing. However, the outerwraper 64 is fed along a feed path of which at least that portion nextadjacent the final translator member extends perpendicularly to theplane of the drawing. Thus, the latter portion of the feedpath of theouter wrapper 64 extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotationof the final translator member. If dea i ii sired, however, such supplycould take place at a different orientation.

it is not essential that the outer wrapper be supplied from a magazineof pre-cut sheets, and if desired, a reel and a cutting device may beemployed in place of the magazine.

A suitable cutting device for this purpose, which may also be employedas the cutting device 28, 29 shown in FIG. 1 for the inner wrappermaterial, is shown in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,203,292.

I claim:

1. A high speed multi-stage machine for monitoring and wrapping blocksof rod-shaped articles, the machine comprising, in combination:

input means to receive a plurality of rod-shaped articles;

a first rotatable translator member;

at least one further rotatable translator member;

mounting means supporting said first and said further translator membersto be each rotatably displaceable about a respective one ofsubstantially horizontal and mutually parallel axes of rotation, to bemutually spaced apart in a direction parallel to said axes of rotation,and to locate next adjacent ones of said translator members in at leastpartially mutually overlapping relationship;

a plurality of pairs of substantially parallel axially extending sidewall members and an equal plurality of base wall members eachinterconnecting radially lower portions of a respective pair of saidside wall members in each translator member to define therein acorresponding plurality of compartments each extending generallyradially to said respective axis of rotation and each being adapted toreceive a block of said articles;

insertion means to transfer a block of rod-shaped articles from saidinput means into a compartment in said first translator member on saidcompartment being disposed with said side walls thereof substantiallyhorizontal;

drive means coupled to each said translator member to angularly displacesaid first translator member stepwise in a first direction of rotationto cause each said compartment thereof to pass through an uppermostposition with said side walls thereof substantially vertical before saidcompartment passes through a lowermost position with said side wallsthereof substantially vertical, to angularly displace said at least onefurther translator member stepwise in a direction of rotation oppositeto said first direction, and to locate any of said compartments in anyone of said translator members in a selective axial end-to-endrelationship with one of said compartments in a translator member nextadjacent said one translator member;

monitoring means to monitor said block of articles in said compartmentin said first translator member on said compartment being disposed insaid uppermost position;

at least one reciprocatable pusher means coordinated with said drivemeans to pushably transfer a block of said articles between saidmutually end-to-end aligned compartments of next adjacent saidtranslator members during a forward stroke displacement of said pushermeans when said aligned compartments are each disposed with said sidewalls thereof substantially horizontal;

at least one wrapper feeder means synchronized with said angulardisplacement of a respective one of said translator members to feed awrapper into an empty compartment in said at least one furthertranslator member on said empty compartment being disposed in anuppermost position with said side walls thereof substantially vertical;

at least one wrapper folder means to fold a projecting wrapper portionover said block of said articles in one said compartment; extractormeans to extract a wrapped block of said articles from one of saidcompartments when said compartment is in operative juxtaposition withsaid extractor means and when said side walls of said compartment aresubstantially horizontal; and

output means to receive said wrapped block of said articles from saidextractor means.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said respective axes ofrotation of said translator members are mutually spaced apart.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each said side wall memberhas a length dimension extending substantially parallel to the axis ofrotation of the respective one of said translator members and a depthdimension extending substantially perpendicularly to said lengthdimension and substantially radially to said respective axis ofrotation, said base wall member interconnecting each said pair of sidewall members defining a width dimension extending perpendicularly tosaid pair of said side wall members and tangentially to a circleconcentric with said respective axis of rotation, said length dimensionbeing greater than said depth dimension and said width dimension beingless than said depth dimension.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said wrapper feeder meanscomprises a feeder member displaceable into said compartment in adirection extending radially of the respective one of said axes tointroduce said wrapper therein.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said wrapper feeder means isco-ordinated with rotational movement of said translator member tointroduce said wrapper into said compartment on the latter beingdisposed in an uppermost position with said side walls thereofsubstantially vertical.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1, comprising air suction applicationmeans selectably connected to ducts in said wall members of saidcompartments to maintain said wrapper in generally U-shapedconfiguration against said walls, thereby to cause said wrapper to forma lining in said compartment.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said insertion means feedssaid groups of rod-shaped articles to said compartment in said firsttranslator member in a first direction, and said extractor meansextracts said groups of rod-shaped articles from said compartment inoperative juxtaposition with said extractor means in a directionopposite to said first direction.

8. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of translatormembers comprises three translator members, said first translator memberbeing located next adjacent a second said translator member, a finalsaid translator member being located next adjacent said secondtranslator member, said drive means being adapted to angularly displacesaid second translator member and said final translator member in onedirection of rotation and to angularly displace said first iii 13translator member in a direction opposite to said one direction ofrotation.

9. A machine as defined in claim 8, comprising inner wrapper feedermeans co-ordinated with rotational movement of said second translatormember to feed an inner wrapper into an empty compartment in said secondtranslator member along a feed path extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said axis of rotation of said second translatormember, and outer wrapper feeder means coordinated with rotationalmovement of said final translator member to feed an outer wrapper intoan empty compartment in said first translator member along a feed pathextending substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said finaltranslator member.

10. A machine as defined in claim 9, comprising applicator means forapplying a sticker to one end surface of a package comprising a group ofsaid articles wrapped in said outer wrapper, said sticker being placedflat against said end surface and having sticker end portions projectingfrom said package.

11. A machine as defined in claim 10, comprising sticker folder meansmounted in juxtaposition with a feed path extending between said atleast one further translator member and said output means to fold said14 projecting sticker and portions against the sides of said package ondisplacement of the latter along said feed path and towards said outputmeans.

12. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each said wrapper foldermeans comprises a pluraity of pivotably mounted lever members, each saidlever member being both pivotably displaceable and rectilinearlydisplaceable in a common plane to carry out a wrapper folding step.

13. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one pushermember is co-ordinated with rotational movement of at least one furthersaid translator member to push said group of articles into a compartmentthereof into which said wrapper feeder means has introduced saidwrapper.

14. A machine as defined in claim 3, wherein the spacing between nextadjacent ones of said side wall members of any two said compartments asmeasured around the circumference of said circle is at least twice saidwidth dimension.

15. A machine as defined in claim 14, wherein said plurality ofcompartments is equal to four, said four compartments beingequidistantly spaced apart around the circumference of said circle.

1. A high speed multi-stage machine for monitoring and wrapping blocksof rod-shaped articles, the machine comprising, in combination: inputmeans to receive a plurality of rod-shaped articles; a first rotatabletranslator member; at least one further rotatable translator member;mounting means supporting said first and said further translator membersto be each rotatably displaceable about a respective one ofsubstantially horizontal and mutually parallel axes of rotation, to bemutually spaced apart in a direction parallel to said axes of rotation,and to locate next adjacent ones of said translator members in at leastpartially mutually overlapping relationship; a plurality of pairs ofsubstantially parallel axially extending side wall members and an equalplurality of base wall members each interconnecting radially lowerportions of a respective pair of said side wall members in eachtranslator member to define therein a corresponding plurality ofcompartments each extending generally radially to said respective axisof rotation and each being adapted to receive a block of said articles;insertion means to transfer a block of rod-shaped articles from saidinput means into a compartment in said first translator member on saidcompartment being disposed with said side walls thereof substantiallyhorizontal; drive means coupled to each said translator member toangularly displace said first translator member stepwise in a firstdirection of rotation to cause each said compartment thereof to passthrough an uppermost position with said side walls thereof substantiallyvertical before said compartment passes through a lowermost positionwith said side walls thereof substantially vertical, to angularlydisplace said at least one further translator member stepwise in adirection of rotation opposite to said first direction, and to locateany of said compartments in any one of said translator members in aselective axial endto-end relationship with one of said compartments ina translator member next adjacent said one translator member; monitoringmeans to monitor said block of articles in said compartment in saidfirst translator member on said compartment being disposed in saiduppermost position; at least one reciprocatable pusher meansco-ordinated with said drive means to pushably transfer a block of saidarticles between said mutually end-to-end aligned compartments of nextadjacent said translator members during a forward stroke displacement ofsaid pusher means when said aligned compartments are each disposed withsaid side walls thereof substantially horizontal; at least one wrapperfeeder means synchronized with said angular displacement of a respectiveone of said translator members to feed a wrapper into an emptycompartment in said at least one further translator member on said emptycompartment being disposed in an uppermost position with said side wallsthereof substantially vertical; at least one wrapper folder means tofold a projecting wrapper portion over said block of said articles inone said compartment; extractor means to extract a wrapped block of saidarticles from one of said compartments when said compartment is inoperative juxtaposition with said extractor means and when said sidewalls of said compartment are substantially horizontal; and output meansto receive said wrapped block of said articles from said extractormeans.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said respective axesof rotation of said translator members are mutually spaced apart.
 3. Amachine as defined in claim 1, wherein each said side wall member has alength dimension extending substantially parallel to the axis ofrotation of the respective one of said translator members and a depthdimension extending substantially perpendicularly to said lengthdimension and substantially radially to said respective axis ofrotation, said base wall member interconnecting each said pair of sidewall members defining a width dimension extending perpendicularly tosaid pair of said side wall members and tangentially to a circleconcentric with said respective axis of rotation, said length dimensionbeing greater than said depth dimension and said width dimension beingless than said depth dimension.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 1,wherein said wrapper feeder means comprises a feeder member displaceableinto said compartment in a direction extending radially of therespective one of said axes to introduce said wrapper therein.
 5. Amachine as defined in claim 4, wherein said wrapper feeder means isco-ordinated with rotational movement of said translator member tointroduce said wrapper into said compartment on the latter beingdisposed in an uppermost position with said side walls thereofsubstantially vertical.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 1, comprisingair suction application means selectably connected to ducts in said wallmembers of said compartments to maintain said wrapper in generallyU-shaped configuration against said walls, thereby to cause said wrapperto form a lining in said compartment.
 7. A machine as defined in claim1, wherein said insertion means feeds said groups of rod-shaped articlesto said compartment in said first translator member in a firstdirection, and said extractor means extracts said groups of rod-shapedarticles from said compartment in operative juxtaposition with saidextractor means in a direction opposite to said first direction.
 8. Amachine as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of translatormembers comprises three translator members, said first translator memberbeing located next adjacent a second said translator member, a finalsaid translator member being located next adjacent said secondtranslator member, said drive means being adapted to angularly displacesaid second translator member and said final translator member in onedirection of rotation and to angularly displace said first translatormember in a direction opposite to said one direction of rotation.
 9. Amachine as defined in claim 8, comprising inner wrapper feeder meansco-ordinated with rotational movement of said second translator memberto feed an inner wrapper into an empty compartment in said secondtranslator member along a feed path extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said axis of rotation of said second translatormember, and outer wrapper feeder means coordinated with rotationalmovement of said final translator member to feed an outer wrapper intoan empty compartment in said first translator member along a feed pathextending substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said finaltranslator member.
 10. A machine as defined in claim 9, comprisingapplicator means for applying a sticker to one end surface of a packagecomprising a group of said articles wrapped in said outer wrapper, saidsticker being placed flat against said end surface and having stickerend portions projecting from said package.
 11. A machine as defined inclaim 10, comprising sticker folder means mounted in juxtaposition witha feed path extending between said at least one further translatormember and said output means to fold said projecting sticker andportions against the sides of said package on displacement of the latteralong said feed path and towards said output means.
 12. A machine asdefined in claim 1, wherein each said wrapper folder means comprises apluraity of pivotably mounted lever members, each said lever memberbeing both pivotably displaceable and rectilinearly displaceable in acommon plane to carry out a wrapper folding step.
 13. A machine asdefined in claim 1, wherein said at least one pusher member isco-ordinated with rotational movement of at least one further saidtranslator member to push said group of articles into a compartmentthereof into which said wrapper feeder means has introduced saidwrapper.
 14. A machine as defined in claim 3, wherein the spacingbetween next adjacent ones of said side wall members of any two saidcompartments as measured around the circumference of said circle is atleast twice said width dimension.
 15. A machine as defined in claim 14,wherein said plurality of compartments is equal to four, said fourcompartments being equidistantly spaced apart around the circumferenceof said circle.